Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The currently registered 12 Cochrane Centres serve as reference centres for the different countries around the world. On the other hand, less than 10% of Cochrane reviews are authored by people based in developing countries and there is a need to extend the Collaboration to those countries.
Objectives: To share our experience, we present here the structure of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Network (IbCN). Information about some of its activities is given in other presentations.
Methods: The strategic aim is to create a network of institutions and people committed to the objectives of the Collaboration in Spain and South America. Multiple contacts and activities have been carried out since the registration of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) in 2000. For instance, in Latin America 66 Cochrane workshops have been held and 22 institutional agreements have been formally signed.
Results: There are 4,839 people registered in the IbCN contact database. Ninety-three titles have been registered, 68 protocols and 73 systematic reviews published (mutually excluding criteria). Fourteen Co-ordinating Centres have been set out as well as 10 Adherent Centres in 10 countries: Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Venezuela. There is a Coordination Committee with representation of all the Centres and once a year a network meeting and a scientific symposium takes place.
Discussion: The high degree of development, the increase in the production and the satisfaction of the members of the IbCN suggest that this is a good strategy to extend the Collaboration to those countries with lower participation, even though their economy is developing.
Conclusions: The creation of regional and national networks of the Collaboration, fully integrated in the objectives and functioning of an international Cochrane Centre, can be a good organising solution to favour a productive participation from all the countries.
Objectives: To share our experience, we present here the structure of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Network (IbCN). Information about some of its activities is given in other presentations.
Methods: The strategic aim is to create a network of institutions and people committed to the objectives of the Collaboration in Spain and South America. Multiple contacts and activities have been carried out since the registration of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre (IbCC) in 2000. For instance, in Latin America 66 Cochrane workshops have been held and 22 institutional agreements have been formally signed.
Results: There are 4,839 people registered in the IbCN contact database. Ninety-three titles have been registered, 68 protocols and 73 systematic reviews published (mutually excluding criteria). Fourteen Co-ordinating Centres have been set out as well as 10 Adherent Centres in 10 countries: Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Venezuela. There is a Coordination Committee with representation of all the Centres and once a year a network meeting and a scientific symposium takes place.
Discussion: The high degree of development, the increase in the production and the satisfaction of the members of the IbCN suggest that this is a good strategy to extend the Collaboration to those countries with lower participation, even though their economy is developing.
Conclusions: The creation of regional and national networks of the Collaboration, fully integrated in the objectives and functioning of an international Cochrane Centre, can be a good organising solution to favour a productive participation from all the countries.